Mission
To organize, train, equip and provide forces for the
conduct of prompt and sustained security operations
independently or jointly with other armed forces units
and to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of the
Republic, and contribute to national development.

Functions
1. Organize, train and equip forces for the conduct of
prompt and sustained combat operations on land.
2. Develop, maintain and employ support of national
development program.
3. Prepare such units as may be necessary for the
effective prosecution of the national defense plans and
programs.
4. Develop, in coordination with the other major services,
and government agencies, tactics, techniques and
equipment, of interest to the Army, for operations.
5. Organize, train and equip all Army reserve units and
provide a professional cadre for the expansion of the
peacetime Army component to meet any emergency.
6. Perform such other functions as may be provided by law
or assigned by higher authorities.

Vision
A professional, capable and responsive army that is a
source of national pride.

It is a professional, compact ground force of regulars
complemented by a strong mobilizable reserves. Personnel
are competent, of noble character and committed to the
accomplishment of their tasks. The army is a showcase of
outstanding leadership and effective management. It is a
capable army, ready to protect and fight for the people
and state. The individual soldier is given the best
training, weaponry and equipment. Their families are
adequately provided for and assured of a secure, healthy
and decent life.

The army is responsive to the changing needs and
aspirations of the Filipino people. In war, it fights to
win. In peacetime, it assists in nation building. During
crisis, disasters and natural calamities, it is a
reliable source of prompt assistance. Professional,
capable and responsive, the Philippine Army is a source
of national pride- trusted by the Filipino people,
respected by its allies and feared by the forces that
seek to undermine national interests. It is an
organization strongly guided by the soldiery values of
Discipline, Courage, Honor, Competence, Solidarity and
Loyalty. Above all, it derives strength and inspiration
from the Almighty God.

Organization
The Philippine Army is administered through the
Department of National Defense (DND). Under the AFP
structure, the Chief of Staff, AFP (CSAFP), a four-star
general, is the most senior military officer. The senior
Army officer is the Commanding General, PA (CG, PA),
usually with a rank of Brigadier General. He or she,
along with his or her Air Force and Navy counterparts, is
junior only to the CSAFP. The CG, PA is solely
responsible for the administration and operational status
of the Army.

Special and Technical Staff
Army Chief Surgeon (AC Surg)
Army Dental Surgeon (ADS)
Army Chief Nurse (ACN)
Army Adjutant General (AAG)
Army Judge Advocate General (AJAG)
Army Provost Marshal (APM)
Army Chief of Engineers (ACE)
Army Chief Ordnance and Chemical Service (ACOCS)
Army Chief Artillery (ACA)
Army Chief Infantry
Army Chief Quartermaster (ACQM)
Army Chief Chaplain (ACCS)
Army Modernization Program Management Office (AMPMO)
Army Internal Auditor
Army Military Personnel Office

Combat Units
The Army is organized into ten territorial Light Infantry
Divisions, a Light Armored Division, a Scout Ranger
Regiment, a Special Operations Command with various
special forces units, five Engineering Battalions, one
Artillery Regiment at Headquarters, the Presidential
Security Group, and Light-Reaction Battallion.

Brief History
The battle of Mactan on April 21, 1521 marked the first
organized resistance of the Filipinos against foreign
invaders. Lapu-Lapu, chieftain of Mactan, defeated a
Spanish colonizer Ferdinand Magellan. As subject of
Spanish rule, the Filipinos clamored for reforms. Andres
Bonifacio later founded the Katipunan to prepare for
armed revolution. The Katipunan formed the nucleus of the
Revolutionary Army, the forerunner of the present-day
Philippine Army. Following the outbreak of hostilities
between the Filipino Revolutionary Forces and the Spanish
troops, the Philippine Revolutionary Government and its
Army was established on March 22, 1897 at Barrio Tejeros,
San Francisco de Malabon, Cavite with Gen. Artemio
Ricarte elected as Captain General. This date has been
considered as the founding day of the Philippine Army.
Two years after the Cry at Pugadlawin, Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo declared Philippine Independence on June 12,
1898. The Filipino troops were to enjoy only a brief
respite. The signing of the Treaty of Paris on December
10, 1889 ceded the Philippines to the United States. Due
to the superiority of American arms and ammunitions, the
Filipinos fell back from one position to another. With
the establishment of the Philippine Commonwealth on
November 15, 1935, President Quezon sought the services
of Gen. Douglas MacArthur to evolve a national defense
plan. Accordingly, Commonwealth Act number 1, popularly
known as the National Defense Act was enacted into law.
Executive Order number 11 provided the legal basis for
the organization of an army of the Philippines. It had an
annual appropriation of P16-M. Over at Fort McKinley 760
Philippine Scouts underwent rigorous training to become
officers of the Philippine Army. Moreover, US Army
officers were asked to check on the supplies and
equipment requisitioned by our government. Other army
equipment were likewise given to our army. The army was
tasked to protect the state against external attack,
promote internal security and to maintain peace and order.

When World War II broke out in 1941, two regular and ten
reserve divisions of the Philippine Army undertook the
defense of the Philippines. These divisions were
incorporated into the United States Armed Forces in the
Far East (USAFFE) under the command of General MacArthur.
After the war, four military areas were activated to take
the place of military districts. The Armed Forces was
reorganized which gave birth to the four major services
of the Armed Forces. Headquarters National Defense Forces
was renamed General Headquarters Armed Forces of the
Philippines. In the early fifties and the mid-sixties,
the Philippine government extended a helping hand to war-torn
countries. The army spared five battalions which
comprised the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK)
to fulfill an international commitment at the same time
to uphold the struggle for democracy. The Philippine
Civic Action Group (PhilCAGV) was sent to South Vietnam
on a mission at peace providing technical and rendering
medical services.

On July 10, 1957, a separate headquarters for the
Philippine Army was established with Brig. Gen. Leoncio
Tan as the Commanding General. At the onset of the
sixties, the role of the army was expanded to include
participation in the socio-economic programs of the
country. To achieve greater flexibility and effectiveness,
infantry divisions took the place of the military areas
in the seventies. On September 21, 1972, Martial Law was
declared. During the decade, military operations
supported by civic action blocked the escalation of
insurgency. The onset of the eighties saw the birth of
the Special Operations Team (SOT) strategy which is aimed
to isolate the insurgents from the civilian population,
and dismantle the political organizations set by the
communism neutralizing and denying them control of
barangays all over the country. Aside from counter-insurgency
campaigns, the SOT plays an additional role in national
development. Together with local government officials,
SOT identifies problems and helps provide assistance in
areas that lack needed vital facilities and service like
roads, bridges, schools, health and sanitation,
livelihood, etc. Because of its effectivity, this
strategy is being adopted not only by the Army but by the
entire Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Modernization
The Philippine Army Modernization Program (PAMP),
consistent with that of the AFPMP, is a fifteen-year
planning document and part of the whole AFP Modernization
Plan. It has identified three five-year planning phases,
which contain the list of projects to be implemented, its
priorities and schedule as well as the financial
requirement. This envisions for the Army to develop the
following capabilities: Rapid Deployment; Command,
Control & Communication; Artillery; Armor; Base
Support Facilities; Reserve Force Mobilization; Army
Aviation; Combat & Civil Engineering; Anti Armor; Air
Defense and Mobilization Stock Pre-positioning.

Modernization Acquisitions:
2003
- Acquisition of 402 M-249 Squad automatic weapons (SAW),
with the first phase being won by FN Herstal of Belgium
for a contract price of Php 117.432 million, delivery
date March 2003. Joint PA and PMC project.

2004
- The PA undertook upgrades on twelve M-101 artillery
pieces with GIAT modernization kits.
- ARV unit acquisition from FNSS Turkey on January 2004,
Php 55 million contract price.
- Acquired Field Tactical Communication equipment, with
the first phase being won by Harris Corp. of the USA, Php
427.43 million contract price, delivery date May 2004.
Joint PA and PMC project.
- The Army is also developing an Tactical Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle (TUAV) together with experts from Mapua for
aerial reconnaissance.

2009
- On December 2009, FNSS Savunma Sisternleri A.S.
delivered 6 units upgraded M113 (ACV-300) complete with
two years of spares for Php 139.14 million. They also
donated 6 units Mine armor kit assembly and 6 units
complete powerpacks amounting to Php 11 million, all
formally received on January 2010.

2010
- November 2010, the PA has acquired, 137 units of M-450
1 ¼ ton Troop Carriers from Hyundai Corp. and KIA Motors
South Korea. The project is a negotiated procurement
through the IA-PDM of the 1994 Memorandum of
Understanding between the Republic of the Philippines and
Republic of Korea and in consonance with Section 4 of
Republic Act No. 9184.
- December 2010, the AFP has received a total of 20 units
(out of the 250 total for both PA and PAF) M-250 2 ½ ton
Troop Carriers with the second batch of 115 units are
scheduled to arrive January 2011, the third batch of 115
units on February 2011. Total project approved budget Php
837.67 million.
- Acquired 21 new airboats from Australia under the Joint
Philippines-Australia Army Watercraft (JPAAW) Project.
The airboats and their ancillary support and maintenance
equipment (each consisting of an airboat and trailer,
together with basic operator training and two-year in-service
support) arrived at Polloc Port, Parang, Maguindanao on
11 September 2010. They will be used to support the
AFPs conduct of counter terrorism and humanitarian
operations in the Liguasan Marshes.
- Project Condor, locally made PA SF assault watercrafts
were acquired in three batches. First batch on November
2010, One 55 foot, 250 hp mothership and twelve 23 foot,
115 hp scout boats. Condor 2 on March 2011, 3 motherships
and 13 scout boats. Condor 3 on May 2011, 3 motherships
and 10 scout boats.

2011
- Acquired a unit of GKN Sankey FV.432 APC through a Deed
of Donation by the United Auctioneers, Inc. on 17
May 2011, and will be commissioned as a 81 mm mortar
carrier, to reinforce the current M113 fleet.
- Succesful configuration and integration the Harris
Radio Circuit (RF5800V) to the LAD's armored vehicle
intercom System for effective & efficient command and
control under the Modified Armored Vehicle Communication
System and will be replicated to all command vehicles.
- Acquired 23 HMMWV ambulance variant (including spares
and technical assistance) on 14 November 2011, are part
of the $10.3 million worth of medical equipment and
supplies procurement project under FMS Case PI-MTB of the
Philippine Defense Reform Program. The PA will
receive 19 units while the PMC will receive 4
units.

2012
- Php 300.78 million contract signed on 20 Dec 2012 for
the delivery of 60 units of 1 ¼-ton field ambulance and
5-ton trucks by KIA Motors Corp of South Korea.